H.—44a.

Milk Committee. (Two meetings.) This committee was set up to investigate the practicability of developing a New Zealand Standard Specification for Market Milk and Cream which, it was considered, would facilitate the administration of milk-delivery-zoning schemes, and so contribute towards the conservation of petrol-supplies. A draft New Zealand Standard Specification was circulated in the usual way to the interested parties for review and comment. After examining the comments received the committee came to the conclusion that its project should be abandoned as it was not practicable to incorporate in a standard specificiaton provisions in excess of those already laid down by existing regulations, by-laws, &c., to an extent which would render such a standard useful. Tbaileb Pumps Committee. (Two meetings.) This committee was set up for the purpose of developing a national standard for large motordriven trailer-pump units, after it had been found that there were differences of opinion among the appropriate authorities concerning the respective merits of locally-manufactured units and imported equipment. After examining the position thoroughly the committee decided to proceed with the formulation of a New Zealand Standard Specification which would ensure that the local product would prove satisfactory in use. Suitable equipment has since been constructed locally. Committees in Recess. The following committees have not had occasion to meet during the year : — Fibrous-plaster Committee. Dairy Machinery and Plant Committee. Woolpacks Committee. Asbestos-cement Products Committee, Hides Committee. Statistical and Financial Return Forms Committee. Illumination Committee. Motor-spirit Committee. Drum-plugs Committee. Six of the above committees have completed the work allotted to them and remain as . standing committees to be called together should the need arise to give consideration to any revision or relevant matter. The work of the other three committees has been held in abeyance pending the receipt of relevant information from overseas and the finalization of investigation of some aspects of the considerations involved. Conclusion. There is ample evidence of the increasing extent to which New Zealand Standards are being used— for instance, the sales of standard specifications during the past four years have been as follows :—

Of the total number of 16,505 standard specifications sold during the current year, 13,478, or 82 per cent., were original New Zealand Standards prepared in this country. A further 1,310 were British Standards adopted as New Zealand Standards with or without local amendment, so that in all 90 per cent, of the sales were New Zealand Standards adopted through the standards procedure in this country. Of the total of 2,315 British Standard Specifications sold, over one-half had been adopted as New Zealand Standards, although the British Standards so adopted number only one-third of the total number received from Great Britain. This indicates clearly the value of the work of examining British Standards, from the point, of view of New Zealand requirements, before they are adopted as New Zealand Standards, with or without local amendments as may be found necessary. A. R. Galbeaitii, M.lnst.C.E., F.R.S.E., Chairman, Standards Council.

14

Ar I Number of T7 , Year. I « . G Value. (Specifications. £ s. d. 1937-1938 .. .. .. 1,444 201 14 9 1938-1939 .. .. .. 4,791 450 13 6 1939-1940 .. .. .. 5,322 674 2 9 1940-1941 .. .. .. 16,505 1,426 0 1